There are a number of matters up for consideration at the 2017 Camanachd Association Annual General Meeting which takes place at The West End Hotel, Fort William on Friday 24 November 2017.

- New Appointments -

Keith Loades is expected to be confirmed as Camanachd Association President, taking over from Jim Barr who he has been shadowing for the last 6 months in a President-elect role.

Keith Loades has been a Camanachd Association Board member for the last 3 years; latterly as Vice-President.

His aims include offering strong leadership, building good relationships, implementing shinty’s new strategic plan, financial stability and strengthening the Camanachd Association Board with the appropriate skills.

Keith Loades is retired after 33 years in the construction industry during the last 10 years of which he was the Commercial Director (Scotland) with a large construction company.

He had a distinguished playing career, mostly with Kinlochshiel, a club he managed on three occasions.

Finance Director Daniel Palombo is up for re-election and he seeks a second term in office to continue his efforts to stabilise and improve the Camanachd Association’s financial position.

Wendy Chamberlain, a current member of Aberdour shinty club who has strong links with Kyles Athletic, is standing for election.

She is currently co-opted as the Camanachd Association’s Board’s first female Director and she wishes to Chair the Club & Volunteer Portfolio.

Colin Cameron also stands for election. He was part of the Strachur side which reached the 1983 Camanachd Cup Final and has been involved with the club ever since. He is looking to see shinty flourishing in the traditional playing heartlands.

- New Resolutions -

The proposed changes to Byelaw 1 (Rules of Play) put before members include:

Minor alterations to the ball, allowing the core to be made of a solid composite material which does not absorb water.

Players will no longer have to wear the same colour helmets as their team mates. Helmets must be free of any sharp edges and should be secured to the head by use of a chinstrap.

Secondary shorts no longer need to be the same colour as the team shorts.

The procedures following a sending off have been expanded to include team officials who have been dismissed.

It has been clarified that all persons representing a club in an active capacity at any game are subject to the same rules, standards of conduct and actions as the players and named substitutes. This is intended to address aggressive dissent, abusive remarks and foul language from the touchline support teams. Having to regularly face this type of behaviour is the most common reason given by individuals who give up refereeing or decline to take up a role in refereeing when approached to do so.

If the two centre players are one left-handed and the other right-handed, the choice of the side for the throw up shall alternate throughout the game rather than the players having the advantage for a half each.

The rules in relation to “cleeking” have been explained further, clarifying that “cleeking” is permissible but that dangerous lifting and downward hacking are not.

The term persistent fouling is defined as a minimum of three fouls committed by an individual player. A warning for persistent fouling shall be issued after a minimum of three fouls has been committed by an individual player. The warning must be specific to the player and it must be made clear that a caution will follow if the player continues to foul. The same procedure will apply if a further caution is to be issued to an individual player for persistent fouling.

In order prevent foul and abusive language (including frustration with oneself), it is proposed this features as a distinct cautionable offence. If the swearing is aggressive or abusive or directed specifically at the referee or a goal judge, then there are grounds for immediate dismissal of the offending player.

Deliberately preventing a clear goal scoring opportunity through foul play is categorised as a cautionable offence.